Dressmaker&#39;s hem-gage.



L. MINGUS.

DRESSMAKERS HEM GAGE. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29. I916. 1,244,355., Patented 0012. 23,1917.

1 2 SHEETSSHEET I.

awmzutoz L. MINGUS.

DRESSMAKERS HEM GAGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 29. 1916.

1,244,355. Patented 001:. 23,1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

. amvmatoz LESSIE MING'US, OF GOALINGA, CALIFORNIA.

DRESSMAKERS HEM-GAGE.

Specificationof Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 23, 1917.

Application filed February 29, 1916. Serial No. 81,247.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Lnssrn MINGUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Coalinga, in the county of Fresno and State of California, have invented new'and useful Improvements in Dressmakers Hem-Gages, of which the following is'a specification.

This invention relates to hem gages and has for its primary object to provide a device of this character which is capable of measuring a hem of a dress upon a person and to gage the hem line when the hem is being stitched by the machine.

An object of the invention is the novel manner of forming a pair of substantially parallel limbs from a rectangular sheet of metal, and the resiliency of said limbs being great enough to hold a band in an adjusted position, the position of the band determin ing the width of the hem.

Another object of the invention is the manner of forming one end of one of the limbs so as to limit the movement of the limbs toward each other so as to allow the cloth to readily pass between the limbs.

A still further object of the invention is the manner of forming the device so that at least one limb may be arranged parallel to a flat surface so as to secure the proper relation between the device and the hem when the hem is being stitched upon the machine.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illus trated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the claim hereunto appended.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top plan view of a portion of a sewing machine table showing my invention applied to a piece of cloth.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through the table showing my invention in side elevation.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view on the line 3*3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through the gage showin the hem arranged between the parallel lmibs.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional view through the gage the slide thereon being moved in a position to permit the insertion of the material to be hemmed between thearms of the gage. I

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of a portion of a dress showing my gage secured to the bottom edge thereof so as to measure the hem with relation to the floor or surface.

Referring to the drawings it will be seen that the main element of my gage is formed from a rectangular sheet of metal bent at an intermediate point to form a loop inclicated by the numeral 1 and to further form a pair of oppositely arranged limbs 2 and 3, the latter being provided with a plurality of scale marks a and also having the free extremity bent toward the limb 2 as indicated at 5. Thus it will be seen that owing to the loop portion 1 the limbs are free to resiliently move toward each other but this movement is limited by means of the bent extremity 5. It is to be further noted that when engagement ishad between the bent end 5 and the adjacent surface of the limb 2 a space is provided in which the hem is free to slide. For insuring enough friction between the limbs and the goods to prevent displacement of the gage and to also regulate the width of the hem I provide a band 6 slidably mounted upon both limbs and normally assuming a position adjacent the loop 1 so as to allow the limbs to move apart for receiving the hem. The limb 3 inclines abruptly at the loop 1 so that the band upon movement will quickly move the limbs toward each other for.engaging the cloth.

By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing it will be seen that the device is so constructed as to lie fiat upon the table and allow the fingers of the operator to readily slide the gage upon the cloth slightly in advance of the machine needle, and thus insuring the proper width of the hem during the sewing operation. In the last figure of the drawings, I have shown the gage depending from the lower edge portion of a dress so that the hem can be properly measured with relation to the ground. that is to say with my device I am enabled to give the hem a uniform width throughout and to uniformly space the hem from the surface.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it is to be apparent that I provide a device which is admirably adapted for the purpose for which it is intended; that the device is simple, durable and eflicient in construction and that the device may be manufactured and sold at a comparatively low cost.

What I claim is A hem gage comprising a. strip of resilient material folded upon itself to provide a pair of arms of equal length one of said arms being straight throughout its length, the other of said arms having a graduated face and an inclined portion adjacent one end thereof hearing at one end upon the first mentioned arm, said inclined portion serving to maintain the second mentioned arm at an angle to the first mentioned arm, a slide through which said arms are passed adapted when engaged with the straight portions of the arms to maintain said arms in parallel relation and when engaged with the inclined portion of the second mentioned arm to control the angle of inclination of the second mentioned arm to the first mentioned arm, and, a downturned portion at the other end of the second mentioned arm adapted to engage the other end of the first mentioned arm when the arms are moved toward each other.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. LESSIE MINGUS.

i Vitnesses 7 JOHN TAYLoR,

C. W. USHER.

topics of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents,

Washington, D, C. 

